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MI Treasury Adopts ID Confirmation Quiz

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As tax time concerns ramp up over ongoing fraud attempts to steal your identity and file false Michigan Income Tax returns using your information, the Michigan Department of Treasury is alerting citizens to a new, and increased, security measure they are implementing.

Word comes today that the Michigan Department of Treasury has increased security measures to protect Michigan taxpayers and the state from tax-related identity theft. If an income tax return has been selected for identity confirmation, the taxpayer will receive a letter from the Department of Treasury asking them to confirm their identity by completing a short online quiz. After confirmation of passing the quiz refunds will be issued in 14-21 days.

State Treasurer Nick Khouri tells us, “We have found a more effective and efficient way to stop fraud while minimizing the impact on taxpayer.”  He explains, “Adding the identity confirmation quiz provides an additional layer of identity protection for the taxpayers of Michigan.”

For additional information on the quiz, visit Treasury's Identity Confirmation website. Additionally, if you suspect you may have been a target of identity theft, you should immediately contact the Department of Treasury at Treasury-ReportIDTheft@michigan.gov and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) at 1-800-829-0433.

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In recent years, Treasury has stopped thousands of potentially fraudulent income tax returns, involving approximately $100 million in possibly-fraudulent refunds. The department continues to caution taxpayers to be vigilant about possible identity theft.

Treasury has also warned taxpayers of fraudulent phone calls being made to taxpayers from a “spoof” phone number, which has the appearance of being from the Department of Treasury. Taxpayers are told they have committed tax fraud and must pay immediately or they could be arrested. Treasury does not demand immediate payment by phone without first making contact through the U.S. Postal Service nor does the department threaten arrest for not paying.

After filing a Michigan return, you can check the status of your refund at any time, on-line, by clicking the “Check My Income Tax Info” box on www.michigan.gov/incometax. Treasury recommends allowing the department at least 14 days to receive and enter a paper income tax return, before checking on its status.

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